Within the growing American subculture of dog people is the nomadic and -- easy, here -- eccentric subculture of show-dog people.

"We're a little over the edge," said Carlotta Dennie, the vice president of the Union County Kennel Club. "I admit that. When my dad used to meet show-dog people, he would ask, 'So, how many days a week do you go to the psychiatrist?'"

Among the eccentricities in the dog show world is a propensity for vanity plates on the vans, SUVs and motor homes that transport the champs, their handlers, and their entourages from show to show.

Friday, for the first of three weekend shows at Robert Miller Airpark in Ocean County, the Pinelands road was lined with DROOLERS, PUGS, BOXERS, KENNELL, etc., from a dozen states. Many vehicles also had the ubiquitous yellow triangle "SHOW DOG ON BOARD" on back windows.

"That's like having a sign, 'Diamonds in the house,' on your front door," said Dennie. "I take mine off when I'm not in the car."

Dennie was reacting to questions about three cases this month in which show dogs went off board in New Jersey.

Pounder, a 170-pound bull mastiff, was stolen out of a locked SUV, case and all, from a Secaucus hotel parking lot on March 2, just prior to a show at the Meadowlands Exposition Center. He was found hours later alongside a highway in Newark by another show-dog person.

Last weekend, a pair of Pembroke Welsh corgis named Daddy Warbucks and Sammy were stolen from a locked pickup in Edison after competing at Raritan Center. They, too, were found in Newark.

While both cases seem fishy, the show-dog people say there is a real threat to their "babies."

"These dogs are like children to some owners," said Gerry Hughes, Connecticut dog handler and breeder of boxers and French bulldogs.

"And it's like a child. Leave it unattended and it will be gone," said Carmen Skinner, his partner.

Hughes and Skinner do about 150 shows a year and travel 48 weekends. The key, they said, is security and watchful eyes. Their van has alarms and security cameras on board.

"The first question we ask when we book a hotel is about the security. If they don't have 24-hour security, we don't stay there," Skinner said. "And at shows, we always park around people we know."

This isn't hard to do, as many of the show-dog people move around in packs. Most of the people at yesterday's show were at Edison last week, and knew of the corgis being stolen.

"That was terrible," said Laurence Matthews of East Orange, a Rotweiler handler, who looked a little sheepish as he helped Kip Kopatch of Rhode Island with her armful of little Japanese Chins.

"Everybody knows about it, and it puts people on edge, because people love these dogs," said Gerald Robinson of Hewitt, who breeds "Rots."

"They're your buddies. You wrestle around with them. Play with them. I can't imagine life without my dogs."

That's why some show-dog people think the thefts are simply a crime of greed.

"These dogs are worth thousands, upwards of $10,000, $15,000," said Lisa Clowes of Lacey, who was showing a Doberman pinscher named Keira. "There's people called 'Bunchers' out there who kidnap dogs for rewards, or to sell them to puppy mills for breeding."

Owners "will pay the reward, no questions asked, just to get their babies back," said Betty Lennon of the Union County club.

Linda Neville, a co-owner of a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Rudo, said there have been cases of show dogs being stolen by animal activists. "They say people should not breed dogs, and that dog shows are cruel. I don't understand that. These are the best cared for animals in the world."

But Dennie said some owners aren't as diligent as others.

"I can take you around here and you'll see dogs left alone while their handlers are showing other dogs, or dogs left alone in their ex (exercise) pens. All you need is someone to walk by and say, 'Oh, that's cute! I want that for my couch!' And they're gone."

Cuteness is one reason toy breeds are usually targeted by thieves. The other reason is obvious: Big dogs, even pampered show dogs, carry more bite.

"Not many people will go after a Dobie," Dennie said.

Joe and Marlene Horvath of New Egypt, dressed in matching kilts, own Komondors, Hungarian livestock guard dogs with a historic reputation of being able to handle wolves and coyotes. Chi-Chi, a female, was all dolled up for the show, but the Horvaths said the girly braids shouldn't fool you.